Cutting Bombs or Teachers.

Yesterday, Republican leaders met with President Obama to discuss the deficit and budget. According to both sides the meeting was positive and they found some areas of common ground to work on. Of our national budget over 80%, according to some sources, is defense, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. So far neither the President or members of Congress has shown the courage to actually cut into these programs. The people who follow my blog on a regular basis may be surprised when I talk about cuts to entitlement programs, but the reality is that if we are to continue these necessary programs, changes have to start now. The longer we wait, the more chance we have that the cuts will be severe and hurt people more. We can do this and the effect can be as simple as extending the retirement age out further. The defense budget is huge and even Bob Gates, the Secretary of Defense has come forward with ways we can start to make cuts there. We can start by ending two long, costly and unnecessary wars. We can reduce the number of bases around the world. We can put the money to use here to help all of us in America. I am not promoting an isolationist agenda, only the idea that if countries around the world want the military protection of America they should be paying for the privilege. Right now our leaders are talking about cuts in the areas that we need to be putting money, such as education, infrastructure and health care for our citizens. What can we do? Exactly what I have been asking your to do from the beginning. Call or write your Congressperson, Senator, State Representatives, State Senators, Governor and the President. Let them know what is important to you. Express you opinion and follow up. We have numerous avenues to contact the above people. Don't let your voices be silenced.